Preview | Limerick seek the first piece of silverware in 2023 as they meet Cork in McGrath Cup final

Three years ago, Limerick ended a fifteen-year wait for pre-season honours when they were 0-20 to 0-16 winners over Cork in the Gaelic Grounds.

Limerick will travel to Mallow this Friday to take on Cork in the 2023 McGrath Cup final. Limerick qualified for the final undefeated with their draw against Tipperary enough following a heavy win over Waterford in the first round.

Cork were comfortable winners against Kerry and sealed their place in the decider with a victory in Cusack Park last Sunday.

The game, which is a repeat of the 2020 final, throws in at the Cork venue at 7.30pm this Friday evening. Three years ago, Limerick ended a fifteen-year wait for pre-season honours when they were 0-20 to 0-16 winners over Cork in the Gaelic Grounds.

That was Billy Lee’s first piece of silverware as manager as they went on to claim the National League title later that year and a second promotion two years later.

Last 10 McGrath Cup Winners

• 2022- Kerry
• 2020- Limerick
• 2019-Clare
• 2018-Cork
• 2017-Kerry
• 2016-Cork
• 2015- Waterford
• 2014- Cork
• 2013- Kerry
• 2012- Cork

Now under the tutelage of Ray Dempsey, Limerick have been experimental in both games thus far with a number of frontline players finding their game time limited. In the meantime, five players have been handed their debuts, with two starting against Tipperary last weekend in the form of Jack Ryan and Cathal Downes.

The latter has been the find of January for Limerick thus far and hasn’t looked out of place in the intercounty set up following a stellar year for Kildimo Pallaskenry in their first season in the senior ranks. Elsewhere, Ruadhan O’Connor, Brian Barry and Eoin O’Shea have all been handed their first appearances for the county.

Ryan and Downes both start the final with Dempsey naming his side for the encounter on Thursday morning. Mike Donovan comes into the side for Davy Lyons in the only personnel change from the Tipp game.

Seven players remain from the starting XV that played Cork in the 2020 final in the form of Donal O’Sullivan, Donovan, Brian Fanning, Iain Corbett, Cillian Fahy, Adrian Enright and Paul Maher.

Cork have been impressive thus far under John Cleary and put five goals past Kerry in their first game since winning last year’s All-Ireland win. That 12-point victory was followed by an equally dominant 2-10 to 0-8 result against Clare last weekend.

Limerick will be looking for an eighth-ever McGrath Cup title, with their previous victory prior to 2020 coming fifteen years previously. Cork are nine-time winners with their most recent win coming in 2018.

Friday’s clash will also be the first of two meetings between the sides this year as they participate in the same division of the league for the first time since 2007. Limerick were relegated that year and will end a lengthy spell away from the second tier when they travel to Derry in the first round of the League next weekend.

The Munster rivals will meet in the fourth round of the National League in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday, February 26.

However, first on the mind will be the chance at silverware this Friday evening in a game that is to be shown live on the TG4 YouTube channel.

Can Limerick begin the Ray Dempsey reign with silverware or will Cork avenge the defeat of 2020?

Limerick face Cork in the McGrath Cup final on Friday, January 19 in Mallow at 7.30pm